Check-writing machine.



H. C. VVELTER.

CHECK wRmNG MAcHrNE. l APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, i915. jlnt v Fati-)med Feb. 5, I9@

*I SHEETS-SHEET ll H. C. VVELTEKH'.A CHECK WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3L IsIe.

Q IA mi; IIT: rdn.. lH ben e Tfn n d. ww .DI QU Im P MTW H. C. WELTER CHECK WRITING MACHINE.

, APPLlCATiN FILED MAR-3.1916. mmq. Paf-@med Feb. 5,1918

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I'I. C. WEL'I'EII.

CHECK WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, :91s.

4 SHEETS-SHEET "meneer enemy/merrie macmn'n.

To allzu/ioni. if may concern:

" Be it known thatl, HERMAN C. Willman, a citizen of the United States, residing .at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a, new and 'Improved Check-'Writing Machine, of Whichvthe following is a specification.

Myinvention, while relating yto printing machines vof tliechcck protecting class in general, ,hasy more especial reference to those commonly known as check Writers, the function ofwli'ich is to print in words on checks, drafts, or Aother negotiable instruments, the exact'amount for which they are written. The type characters are usually carried by a member :which is movable to readily bring a'selected line `thereoiiropposite a platen, whereupon one of suoli is moved toward the other for the printing operation, `@aiilg A'as o safeguard against erasure; for -l'raudulently raising the amountpayablethe-type and `platen are so conformed to' either pei-forato the iiiatciial ofthe iiistrunentheld between them` or break `.the fibers .thereof throughout the printed surface.

' One of the objects of this invention is to provideqa `cheek Writing iiiachine oi' the character described that is of simple land strong construction, and both easily and 'quickly operable.

Ainotlier object is to inclose the operatiiiiyg f "mechanism in a casing designed to permit instruments in Writing other than the ordinary check or draft, as invoices, stock certiicates. etc., or documents on legal cap paper, to yhe yplaced in the machine and printed on any desired line thereof.

A further object to provide a visible writing machine, that is, o iie in ivliicli,vvlien printing` along' a single line, each Word or clinructer'is brought into view of-tlie `opoiator before `operation `is begun. '.t'o print the succeeding' word'or character; and because oflliisivisible feature it is ossible to lend tliefrlieck manually,"instead) lance in order to obtain equal spacing `and b v so (loing to greatly reduce the number ol' operating parts, the manually controlled feed beine` practically as fast as the auto matic. i i

And a still further object is to provide a menus carried by and movable with the type support44 for stripping the millenni printed specification of Leiters raient. Application tiled Marelli 1916. serial No. @1397.

eration, an d,

printing members 'of autoinntu'ally as is usually done, :i variable disv NEW YORK, ASSXGNOR T0 HiiJliELTE. RCHESTEH, NEW YORK.

onl'roin the type after each printingn opalso, to provide av new and novel means for retaining; the instrument, as a cheek, in proper alineinent.

The accompanyino` drawings illustratin a machine,"constructed in accordance witii my invention are as follower- Figuies ligind 2 are opposite side eleva-` tions of the ri'njicliine; Fin'. l, is a plan view of the base wiltli part of the cover plate removed and with the rear portieri oi the 'top part of the 'case shown in section taken alongl the linel m-l-y ol llpg. 2 5 liig. el, a 'front elevation of the machine; Fig. 5, o vertical sectional view taken alone,r the line ailwyl of Fig. 4i; Fig. (l. a vertiilgil sectional view taken along the line nos, i of Fi Q; Fig. 7, a sectional detail.showinga the lever connections lf'or raisingr and lowering the type wheel; Fig: 8, o, portion of the type Wheel in end view and the means for locking the same against rotation; Fig. 9, a plan view of the type wheel locking meansfliig. l0, a side view of the stripper device with parts of the printing :intl feeding; mecha nism shown in dotted lines; Fig. ll., e. per spective View olE the stripper; Fig. l2, a de'- tail showing the means employed for ire venting u lateral movement of the eetl rollers; Fig". 13. n plan view of the bese of the machine with a clicclr thereon, and showing in section tl means for gagging' the distance the check is to be *fed after each successive printing operation; and Fig. il, a detail of construction to be explained.

Similar reference characters refer to siinilar paris throughout the several views.

The operating mechanism ofthe machine is mostly contained within a casing or trame consisting of tivo separable parts, a beso and a top section. The base comprises a ree (angular main trent portion l, iiaviiiw` siole walls which are reinforced by' bolli onglludinally and transversely extending; ribs 2 und 3, respectively, and -fi rear extension 4:; while the top comprises ajiour walled up- Y i i. J illVl-illflgll ,Glll Y patented lreb. 5, linien,

right member 5 having outwardly extending@ p sido flanges 15 by which it is supported upon the base extension @e and, at its upper und, an arm or neel:` 'i' extending forwardly nl, sub stantinlly 90 tlicrelroni anni which termi-- notes in a depending head 8. The parte l and 5 of the buse unil lop' section, respectively, are secured together hy (lov/el pins il and screws l0, as seen in l? 1g. 3.

The base portion l has secured thereon by screws 11 a cover plate 12 lfor supporting a check,-which term will hereinafter mean any instrument that may be printed by the machine,-and in which plate suitable slot openings are formed to receive the tops of the feed rollers i3 and the platen 14, the latter member being adjustably supported, in a manner to be e'xplained in a boss 15 forming an integral part of one of the reinforcing ribs 3 ofthe base.

In thegide walls of the head 8 are vertically entending openings 16 forming v,igguide-y -ways for; side arms 17 of a yoke`18 on the cross bar 1.9 `of which are integrally forme a pair of centrally disposed upwardly eX- tending ears 20. These ears are pivotally connected with one end of a lever 21, the

other end thereofhaving pivotal connection with the outer ends of arms 22 formed on a member 23 extending between the side walls of the head 8 and secured on a shaft 24 revolubly mounted, in such side walls. This. shaft extends outwardly beyond the right hand wall, with respect to Figs. 4 and (i, and

has secured thereon one end of the rearvardly extending operating lever 25 which is provided at its free end with a suitable handle 26. Gn the rod 27, forming the pivotal connection between the lever 21 and arms 22, there is a coiled spring 2S having its central portion engaging under the lever 21 while its ends engage against the member 23, the action of such spring being to return the levers 2l and 22' from the position in which they are seen in Fig. 7 to their normal and inoperative position in which they are seen .in Fig. 5 when downward pressure is released from the operating lever 25. The throw of the lever 25 is limited 1n its downward movement by the cngagei'nent ot' the arms 22 with a stop 29 comprising a rod eX- tending between the side walls of the head'8. The side arms of the yoke are slidabrle vertically in the guide-ways 1G formed in the side walls of the head 8 and the yoke is held against lateral movement by side plates 30 and 3l covering the guide-ways and secured by screws to the outer faces of such side walls. The plate 30 is slotted to receive and permit a raising and lowering with the yoke, which is effected by levers 21 and 22 above described, of. a horizontally extending shaft l.

32 revolubly mounted in the side arms 17 and on which and between the .arms there is secured by a pin 33 the type Wheel 34. This shaft extends outwardly beyond the left hand side wall of the head, with respect to Figs. l and (i, and has a dial wheel scoured thereon by means orf a pin 3G, such wheel being provided with suitable means, as tbe lrnurled head 37,'for readily turning the same to bring any one ot the designating.

characters located on the peripberythereof into registration with the pointer 38 prpjectand, preferably, formed integrally therewith ing outwardly from and secured to the upperend of the side plate 30, as seen in Figs. 2 and G.

The type wheel 34 carries on its periphery a plurality of equallyv spaced type bars 39 extending parallel with the axis of rotation, and characters designating the several .lines of typeare formed on the periphery of thc dial wheel 35, as above stated, s0 that a selected line of type'is brought into printing position above the platen 14 by turning the dial Wheel to bring the corresponding dcsignating character thereon directly beneath the pointer 38. i 80 Qn one face of the type wheel 34 there is a projecting lring which is slotted to form a plurality of equally spaced lateral rojections 40, the number of such slots being the same as that of type bars 39 and having their respective center lines in the same radial planes. The outer ends of these'projections are beveled to receive in engagement therewith and between two adjacent ones thereof the correspondingly conformed lower end of a spring actuated plunger 4l, the purpose of which is to cause the proper centeringr of a selected type bar afi-.l to yieldingly hold tho type wheel against rotation when not in engagement with the positive locking means, which latter comprises a member 42 ext-ending inwardly from the lower end of the side plate 31 and conformed to 'engage within the slot between two adjacent 4projections 40 when the type wheel is moved downward an before the type characters are brought into. engagement with the platen, thus holding the wheel positively,7 against the slightest r0- tary movement during the printing operation. iilhon the type wheel is turned to bring a selected line oi type into printing position, the plunger 4]. is forced by the projections 40 upwardly against the actionl of a coiled spring 43 contained Within a hollow i screw 44 threaded into the cross bar 19 of the yoke 18. i

In the operation of machines of the charactor to which my invention pertains, the words or numerals are not only printed on the check but the paper is either perforated 115 or the fibers thereot are broken throig out the printed surface and to accomplish lhis the type characters and platen have inlerengaging printing tacos, such as pin points t'ormod on the typo which engage through 120 pertoratious tbereim in the platen, or alter-l nating parallel extending ridges and grooves formed on bolli u'uanbers. the ridges of one member being adapted to outer tbe grooves ot tbe other. `This latter method isfsbown 125 as embodied in tbo'niacliil'ic boi-cin shownr and rlosrrilnalg'and it will thus be seen that in order to secure proper registration of the 'irregular faces ot' typo. aud platen the latter must necessarily be adjustably supported.

,on opposite of swinging inattesa? provide the platen lt, made preferably of hard steel, and. being in length and width substantially the saine as the length and width, respectively, ot' the type bars 39. The platen is seated in. a slot li5 cut lengthwise of: a support comprising the boss l5 formed on the centrallydisposed transverse rib of the base portion l. The side walls thus formed on the boss l5 have a slot 416 cut thereacross to receive the shoulder `i7 of a screw 48 threaded longitudinally into the platen whereby upon a turning of the screw the saine is caused to be the fixed and the platen the movable member. Vertical 'lo this end, then, l

adjustment is provided for by two screws t9 which are threaded upwardly through the support 15 and engage .the bottom of the nlnten near its ends, while the platen is retained in proper positioniif adjustment bv a centrally disposed screw 150 threaded therel into which extends upwardly through a slot opening therefor 'in the said support.

At 5l are seen two ink rollers extending parallel with the type wheel 3st and located sides thereof below its axis. These rollers are supported in the outer ends brackets 52 pivotally connected at their inner ends to' ears 53bent from plates 5i secured to the members 55 which comprise cover plates for the cut away lower portions of the front and` rear walls ot' the head S. The ink rollers are at ally times held in yieldingcontac't with the type wheel by the action of the coiled springs 56 encircling the rods 'forming the pivotal connections between the brackets 52 and ears 53, and ink therefrom is supplied to the type when turning the wheel to bring diii'erent lines of type into printing position. A downward movement o l` the type wheel causes the ink rollers to be swung farther *apart and to permit this the over plates are of the curved formation shown. These platesI are detachably held in place by havingr their bottom edges curved to engage over rods 57 extending be tween the side'wills et the head 8 and by a centrally positioned locking member foreach such as that shown at 58 in Figs. l, 2, 4 and The rods 57 are preferably secured to place, as secu in sectional detail in Fig. 14, by screws 59 threaded into the ends thereof through the sido walls of the head 8.

it 13 are seen the usual Vlmurled feed rollers which, in this machine, .are located one cach side of and slightly in advance of the platen Ylfl with. their peripheries engaging through slot openings therefor in the.

base plate l2 and projecting just above the top suriaro thcreoi. They are carried on the ends ci a sleeve 66 secured upon a rearu'ardly extending shalt 6l having bearings in the ,iront wall and one of the ribs 2 of the machine b1. e. This shaft is operable by haud, for which purpose a. head 62 is progage in a centrally for 1n the plate 67,

vthe outer edge thereof, and in `pinion 76 secured on the inner movement by the inner end of,

the bearing 2 engaging eisv the adjacent shoulders termed by the rec v duced portion 64 ofthe shaft., see Fig. 12.

Engaging the tops of the feed rollersnl are small gripping rollers 65 inounted in, ears 66 extending outwardly from the` lowery portion of a plate 67 held in position against the outer face of the side cover plate 30 by screws 68. This plate 67 has a slight vertical movement in order to raise the rollers 65 from the feed rollers to permit thel insertionl of a check therebetween, such move ment being provided for by the slots 69 through which the screws 68 extend, and the means tor raising the plate 67 comprises a lever 7 Opivoted at its center to the side Wall of the head 8. 0n the outer end of the lever 70 there is'a projection 7l adapted to endisposedv opening thereon the inner end there is formed a member 72 to be engaged by the finger of the operator, while the downwardly extending arm i5 has connected therewith one end of a coiled spring 74 the other end of which is fastened to a pin in the side wall rollers 65 from engagement with the feed rollers 13, all ot which is against the action of the spring,y 7i which member causes the parts to resume their normal positions, being that indicated in the drawings, when pressure on the lever 70 is released.

The lower portion of the plate 67 is offset toward the two reasons, first, that the gripping rollers 65 will engage the tops of the feed rollers 13 anch-eccomi, to form a gaging means, as shown in Fig. 13, whereby the check'is 'advanced the proper distance after ing operation to obtain equal spacing 'betwcenthe words or characters. This is illustratcd in Fig. 13 wherein there is shown a cheek 75 on which has been printed the word TWENTY and the check moved the proper distance, gaged by the member 6i" by having the last letter Y just beyond position for the succeeding word to be printed. i 1 i Within the top part 5 of the frame ifs a, crifl vof a mounted in a bossI 78 shaft 77 revoluhly formed on one oi the supporting flanges 6 and having an operating head 70 on its outer end. 'lhis pinion causes a movement forward and buch of a check sheet metal rack 8() on 4which is a cross head 81 having formed thereon a plurality ot' projections bent to acorn] inverted Llesliape rnen'lbers 82 having gage comprising av base plate 'la and lfm-ming a gage or fence aty 10o' platen 1l, see Figs. 5 and 6, for

each printiilc forward Cntlrof- "their free ends engaging the surface oi the pointer 38, and the lever 25 is pressed downagainst which the inner end of the check, sce

Figs. 2 and 13, engages and whereby a proper alinenient of the printing is obtained.

The design of the machine is such that the space formed` between tlienpiiglit portion 5 of ythe top frame section and the depeniii head 8 permits instruments other lli ordinary check or draft,`such as invoices,

Stock certificates, etc., indicated at 83 in Fig. 1, to be placed 1n ,the machine and printed on I anydesired line thereof.

It is necessary to provideA ineans whereby,

after each printing operation, the material prini'edon-vill be prevented from being raised from. the plate 12 by the type in the reti'irn`inovement of-the type wheel, and to 2 this end I make use of a movable stripper such as shown in Figs. 5, (i, 10 and 11. The

device is `formed of thin metal and com-` prisesa pair of arms Si extending downward 'from a side arm 17 of the yoke 18 to `the bottom of the .type wheel 34 and thence ander the wheel7 as shown, such arms being spaced apart to allow a type bar 39 to engage between them. Their free ends are connected -by a cross piece 85 while their other ends are connected 4by a member 86 secured by` screws to the bottom of the side arm 17 of the yoke with which they are raised and lowf ered. The portions of the strip-per arms 84 under the type wheel are inclined slightly so that thc 'free' ends thereof will engage the check 75'just prior to contact therewith of the type, and consequently, on the upward movement'of the parts the resiliency of the arms miesuming their normal inclined posil tion wil1 cause rhein to hold the check in contact with the plate 12 fora brief periody of time to effect a' stripping of thel checle from the typewhilc the latter moves clear of the platen. The arms H4, besides, performing the functinroi`l a stripper, by engaging un- ;vder the lines of type adjacent the one inprinting position `guard against the check4 coming in contact with such type, which otherwise might happen were thel check not always perfectly flat upon the platev 12.

The operation et the machine is as followsg- 1 A check isplaced on the supporting base i plate ll and the check gage properly adu fustedtosecure printing along the desired iine.- The lever 70 is then operated to raise the gripping rollers ('55 allowingr the check to be moved onto the fccdl'ollcrs 13 after which b v turning the shaft 61 the check is .ad-

vanced the proper distance. A selected line of type is brought into printing position by turning' the dial wheel 35 to bring the corrollers 13, the proper distance being gaged',y 1f equal spacing is desired., by means of the respmiding indication thereon under the wardly to cause the printing` operation. Elihe check is then advanced by-turning'the-Ieed i easing mer' lower ol'sot porlion of the plate 67 in the manner slated, after which the next typo selection made and the lever 25 again o eratcd to cause the printing of the succee ing word.-`

1What I claim is: 1. In a check writing machine, a base, a platen, a support in the base for the platen, a cover plate on the base for supporting a check, and means for feeding the check; a

casing,r member Y,having vertically extending gnideways formed therein, a yoke slidable in said ways, a type wheel secured to a shaft revolubly supported in said yoke, a dial gaging vand positively locking the seme against rotation.

2. In a check writing.; machine, a hase, a

platen, a support in the base for the platen, a cover plata l on thc: L. for supporting a check, and means for i Aing;r the check; a having vertically extending guide-wal.;l .armed therein, a yoke slidable in said ways, a type wheel secured to a slift revolubly supported in said yoke, a divi! wheel on said shaft, means for turning` the type wheel to bring a selected line of type into printingr position, ink rollers held in yieldingr engagement with said type wheel,

lmeans. for yieldingly retaining the type wheel in its predetermined position, operating means for moving` the yoke along saidways whereby the selectedli'ne of type' and the platen are brought relatively toward each other' to-impress a check held between them,

' means in thel path of the type wheel in its downward movement for engaging and positively locking;` the same against rotation, and means carried by said yoke .tor stripping the check from the type as they move clear of the platen.

3. In a check writing' machine, a base, a platen, a support inthe base for the platen, a cover plato on the hase for supporting a cheek', and means for 'feeding the check; a

casinar member having vertically extending guide-ways formed therein, a yoke slidable in said ways, a type wheel secured to a shaft revolubly supported in said yoke, a dial wheel on said shait,:nieans for turning the type wheel. to bring a selected line of type into printing` positiom-ink rollers held in yielding` engagement with said type wheel, means for yieldingly retaining thetype 'ip-season? j y Wheel in .its predetermined position, an operating shalt mounted in said casing, connections between the said shaft and said yoke, means on the operatingr shaft tor causing through the action of said connections la movement of said yoke whereby'the selected line ot type and the platen are brought relatively toward each other to impress a check held between them, elastic means for returning the parts to their normal position, means in the path ot the type wheel in its-downward movement for engaging and positively lockin the same against rotation, and means carrie by said yoke for stripping the check from the type as they move clear of the platen.

d. rllhe combination,

in a check writing machine, of a casing the side walls ot which have vertically extending openings forming guide-ways, a yoke slidable in said ways,`

cover plates for said openings for preventing lateral movement of the yoke, a type wheel revolubly supported in the yoke,/an annular flange on one face of the type wheel slotted radially to form a plurality o t equally spaeed projections,

and adapted to engage between two" adjacent ones oit said projections to positively/'mid the type lwheel against rotation, and means .tor reciprocating the yoke to bring said annular flange on one face ot the type Wheel slotted radially to form plurality of equally spacedprojcctions the outer ends of which are beveled, means for yieldingly holding the type wheel against rotation comprising a spring actuated plunger housed .in the yoke and havinO one end conformed to engage between the 'eveled ends of two adjacent ones of said projections, a iixed locking member carried by one of said cover plates and adapted to engage between two adjacent ones of said projections to positively hold the type wheel against rotation, and means for reciprocating the yoke to bring said projections into and out of venga'gement with the said fixed locking member.

G. The combination, in a cheek writing machine, of a base, a platen, a support in the base for the platen, a cover plate on the base for supporting a check, and check feeding means; a ear-ing member supported above the base and having vertically extending openingsr'in the side walls thereof, a yoke slidably supported in slid openings, side cover plates 'Stor said openings which prea fixed ,locking member carried by one of said cover plates' vent a lateral movement of the yoke, side arms on said yoke and a type wheel secured to a shattrevolubly supported in said side arms, said wheel having a plurality of equally spaced lines of type characters on its periphery which extend parallel 'withthe axis of rotation, a dial wheel on said shaft and means for rotating the shaft to bring a selected line of type into. printing position an operating shaft revolubly mounted in said casing, connections between such operating shaft and said yoke means on the last named shaft for causing through the action of the connections a downward movement of'lthe yoke whereby a check is impressed between the platen and the selected line of type, an annular flange on one tace of said type wheel which is slotted radially to form a pluralityV tween two adjacent ones of said projections to cause a centering of the selected line of type and to ynieldinglyhold' the typewhe'el against rotation, a fixed locking member 'adapted to engage between two adjacent ones/of said projections to positively `holdy the type wheel-against rotation and With which said projections engage during the movement of the type wheel toward the platen, and elastic means for returning said operating' means and the parts actuated thereby to their normal position 7. 'In a machine scribed, a base, a platen, a fixedv support,` in the base for the platen, a base cover plate comprising a support for a check', a casing member, a supporting frame vertically movable in said casing and actuating.means therefor, a ,Wheel revolubly supported in said frame and having on its peripherya plurality of lines of type characters, means for rotating said wheel to bring a selected line of type into printing position, and a spring arm carried by said frame and extending undcr thetypc Wheel parallel withv type, said warm` 'being' the selected line of of the character" der adapted to contact with the check before 1 contact therewith of the type characters and, because of its resiliency in resuming its normal con'dition, to remain in contact with the check to hold the same for a brief period against said cover plate to eii'ect a stripping of the check from the printing faces of the type characters and platen as the'same are moved relatively apart.

8. In a machine of the character described, 'a base, a platen, a fixed support in the base tor the platen, va base cover plate comprising a support for a check, a casing member, a supporting trame vertically movable in said casing and actuating means therefor, a wheel revolubly supported in said frame and having on its plurality of lines of type characters, means for rotating said wheel to bring a selected periphery a i 4i bent at substantially' right angles to extend yunder the -wherel each side of the selected "line o ftype and being adapted tol/contact with the'oheek before contactherewith of I `the type characters and, also, because of :their-resiliency in 'resuminflheir xgiormal condition, to remain in- Contact with the ,check to hold the same for a brief period against said cover plate to e'ect a stripping ofthe, cheek from the printing faces of the .type eharaetersan'd platen las the same are moved relatively apart.` i t 9.'In` a checlr'writing machine, a base, a "L casingmember supported above the base and 2O having side walls', two printing members movable relatively toward each other to impressa 'cheek held between them, |`one of such members being supported in thefbase vland the 'other inv the easing member;- manwally.' operable check feeding rollers revolubly` supported in the base, gripping rollers andmeans for holding them in yielding eony. tatlwith the tops of the feeding rollers, and `37a' gage-'plate slide-bly supported on one of the said side 'walls and having arms carryv ing thelgrig'fiing rollers. f ,"1'04'1'11 a Check writing machine, a base., a casing member supported above the base l `Vand yhaving side walls, two printing membersniovable relatively toward each other to impress al check held between them, one of such members being supportedin the base and theother in' thecasing member; manualjly operable cheek feeding rollers revolu- 40 blyy'supported in the base, gripping rollers and means for holding them in yielding contact with the tops of the feeding rollers, and

a. platefslidably supported on one of the` said sidey walls and having arms carrying the gripping rollers, said plate having an odset portion forming a gaging means, for the purpose specified.

11. In a check lwriting machine, a base, a casing member supported above the base and 'having side walls, a base cover plate eom- 50 prising a support for the check, a platen and a support therefor in the base, a revolubl)r supported type wheel within said easing and movable to bring aselected line of type on f 'insertion of the check between .the 'feeding and the gripping rollers.

12. In aehe'ck writing machine, a base, a plat-en and a support 1n the base for the 'l0 platen, a base cover plate comprising a support for a check, check feeding means, a casing comprising a rear portion extending upward from said base and a depending head supported from the rear portion, printv ing mechanism eoperating with said platen supported in said head, a check gage comprising a' cross-headhaving check engaging members formed thereon and a rack extending rearwardly from the'cross-head, a pin- 80 ion engaging said rack and located within the rear portion 'of said casing, a shaft on which the pinion is seeured, and means for operating the shat.

HERMAN C. WELTER. 

